Current Newsletter - MAY 2008

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M A Y   2008

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

First of all it was very disappointing to see so few members attend the AGM in January. The meeting is for you to elect the people you want to run the society. The following people have been elected to serve the society.

Chairman                       Steve Barnes

Vice Chairman                Beverley Yates

Secretary                      Lee Thompson

Treasurer                      Joyce Nicholls

Committee

Steve Barnes, George Birkin, Les Cookson, Kath Creer, Alison Griffiths-Barnes, Lionel Glover, Joan Hudson, Joyce Nicholls, Debbie Sheehan, Lee Thompson, Joan Watkinson, David White, Beverley Yates, Norman Yates.

Other positions

Membership                                     Kath Creer

Publicity                                           Les Cookson

Young Persons Co-Ord                  Debbie Sheehan

Patronage                                        Lionel Glover

HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS

At the recent AGM the committee proposed two more members who should be recognised for their long service. Therefore it was agreed at the meeting that Diane Dean and Peter Dean become Honorary Life Members. These will now join the other four honorary life members (Sue Berry, Margaret Birkin, Marjorie Glover and Doris Taylor) on the role of honour in the programme.

PLAYERS AWARDS DINNER

Congratulations to all those that won an award at our recent awards dinner at Leyland Golf Club.

Best Actress in a Leading Role – Musical/Panto

Sarah White as Snow White in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Best Supporting Actress in a Leading Role – Musical/Panto

Catherine Sheehan as Prince Valiant in Snow White

Best Actor in a Leading Role – Musical/Panto

David Murray as Joseph in Joseph

Best Supporting Actor in a Leading Role – Musical/Panto

Tim Redmond as King Basil in Snow White

Best Actress in a Leading Role – Play

Jean Hutchinson as May Brewer in Summer End

Best Supporting Actress in a Leading Role – Play

Alison Griffiths-Barnes as Petri Garanakova in Friends & Neighbours

Best Actor in a Leading Role – Play

Lionel Glover as Albert Grimshaw in Friends & Neighbours

Best Supporting Actor in a Leading Role – Play

John Sangster as Vladimir Previtch in Friends & Neighbours

The Jean Robinson Award for Most Memorable Performance by an Actress
Kath Creer as Emily Baines in Summer End

Most Memorable Performance by an Actor
Karl Mercer as Pharoh in Joseph

Best Production of the Year

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat  - Directed by Beverley Yates

NODA REGION 6 NOMINATIONS

The society has had seven nominations for the forthcoming NODA Region 6 Awards at the Clifton Hotel in Southport. They are:

–         Best Actress in a Play - Jean Hutchinson as May in Summer End

–         Best Supporting Actor in a Play - John Sangster as Vladimer in Friends and Neighbours.

–         Best Mortal in a Pantomime - Alison Griffiths-Barnes as the Queen in Snow White

–         Best Mortal in a Pantomime - Catherine Sheehan as the Prince in Snow White

–         Best Direction of a Play - Tom Lane for Summer End

–         Best Staging of a Play – Friends and Neighbours

–         Best Staging of a Play – Summer End

Congratulations to everybody that has been nominated. Anybody wishing to attend, please contact Lee Thompson asap. The cost is £25 each and is on the 15^th August.

“101 DALMATIANS”

As mentioned earlier this year’s May production will be “101 Dalmatians” directed by Lee Thompson. This is a show (not a musical) for all the family. The show will be on from Wednesday 14^th May to Saturday 17^th May – Curtain up 7.30pm. There will also be a matinee on Saturday 17^th May at 2.30pm. Ticket bookings forms are available on the website or contact Lionel Glover on 01257 270112.

“BITING THE BULLET”  - AUDITIONS

Les Cookson will be directing this Frank Vickery play.

“Ted (Mid to late 50’s) undergoing a mid life crisis, leaves the house and home loving Beryl (Early to mid 50’s that they have shared for thirty two years. At first Beryl is shattered, but gradually works back from the edge of despair, helped by her exuberant daughter Angie (Early 20’s) and down-to-earth neighbour Dawn (mid to early 50’s). a holiday abroad, a complete make over, not to mention a platonic friendship with the young handyman Scott (late 20’s), who gives her new ways of looking at life – rescue her from the nightmare of separation.

Auditions will be held on Tuesday 20^th May at St Ambrose Church Hall at 7.30pm.

Scripts and further information can be obtained from Kath Creer 01772 492417 or Les Cookson 01772 465539.

NODA REVIEW – SUMMER END

 “Yet again this society have found a very entertaining play for which they built a superb set.

Kath Creer as Emily Baines gave her usual high standard performance and as I come to expect, her comic timing was spot on. Playing opposite her was Jean Hutchinson who also made a very good job of matching Kath, with her characterisation of May Bewer.

Supporting these two main roles were sound performances from Alison Griffiths Barnes as Sally and Liz Procter as the evil Mrs Lang.

The only man in the cast, David Quick, played Alan Baines the long suffering son of Emily, who is part of the nice twist at the end.

A very charming comedy and one that was new to me. My thanks to the cast and the production team for an enjoyable evening.”

Colin Magenty

PRODUCTION DATES

101 Dalmatians – 13^th May to 17^th May

Biting The Bullet – 13^th Aug – to 16^th Aug

Cinderella – 2^nd Dec to 6^th Dec

J A N U A R Y   2 0 0 8

N O V E M B E R   2 0 0 7

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NODA Region 6 Awards 2007

The Players received 15 nominations for the Area 6 NODA awards, Congratulations to the three winners.

                    Best Mortal in a Pantomime:                   MICHAEL COOMBES as “Prince Rupert” in “Frankenstein”

                    Best Staging of a Play:                               THERE GOES THE BRIDE

                    Best Pantomime:                                       FRANKENSTEIN THE PANTOMIME

NODA Review – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Jumping Jehosophat, this “Joseph” was jubilant and joyful. What a wonderful evening’s entertainment, as good as, if not better than many adult performances. The first voice we heard was that of the delightful Holly Brooks, aged 10 who, with the accomplished Catherine Sheehan, aged 17 made a confident and polished duo of Narrators. Thus, the standard was set immediately with excellent performances from the cast of 40 children between the ages of 8 and 17 years.

There were some great scenes in this very good production by Beverley Yates, I particularly liked the smooth and simple but extremely effective change from Potiphar’s scene to the prison scene. – Very impressive.

Joseph was played by David Murray – this was his first lead role before he takes his place at the National Youth Theatre Easter School next year. He delivered a good solid performance and will. I am sure, go far in this, his chosen career. Karl Mercer gave us a great hip-swivelling and knee-shaking Pharaoh. The three dancers were fantastic and never put a foot wrong – well done girls and your choreographer, Debra Ashmore’s hard work certainly paid off.

Musical Director and assistant, Stewart Bell and Lisa Smith, had obviously worked hard with the children and the standard of performance and musical discipline of the chorus demonstrated that admirably. The cast looked and sounded happy, confident and self-assured.

Kerry Chippendale as Judah and Edward Villers as Benjamin particularly stood out with their engaging smiles, twinkly eyes and constantly acting their roles whatever else was happening on stage. We may have been sitting in a small Church Hall, but we could not have had a better show if we had been sitting in the West End. Well Done St Ambrose!         -  Marilyn Taylor

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

Rehearsals are going really well and a good time is being had by all. Hopefully the audience will enjoy it as much as we have. This is a very traditional pantomime and full of really funny jokes written by David White.

Please note. due to licence restrictions regarding performances made by children we have to cancel the usual first Saturday matinee. Therefore the performance dates will be Tuesday 4^th – Saturday 8^th December with two performances on the Saturday 2.30pm and 7.30pm.

Dress Rehearsal will now be on Friday 30^th November and Monday 3^rd December.

Ticket booking form is enclosed, please sell as many tickets as possible. For priority bookings, please return to Lionel no later than Sunday 11^th November.

2008 Seasons

We are pleased to announce our productions for 2008.

Pastimes                                                                                                  Calamity Jane

a play directed by Tom Lane                                                                                                     a musical directed by Lee Thompson

Wed 13^th – Sat 16^th February                                                             Tue 13^th – Sat 17^th May

Biting the Bullet                                                             Cinderella

a play directed by Les Cookson                                                                                     a modern panto directed by Lee Thompson

Wed 6^th – Sat 9^th August                                                             Tue 2^nd – Sat 6^th December

Pastimes – Auditions

Synopsis - Sam and Bill, two middle-aged brothers, live quietly and happily running a cafe in a seaside town until runaway Linda arrives looking for a job - followed by her grandmother Connie who is looking for Linda. Connie is then brought face-to-face with George, the husband who left her forty years ago which is how Sam and Connie's friend Win is reunited with her errant husband Arthur, now known as Bill!

Tom Lane would like to cast the show before the pantomime is performed. Therefore an audition notice and further details will be posted on the notice board of the Church hall over the next couple of weeks. If you require further information please do not hesitate to speak to Tom or one of the Drama Committee.

Travel Group Trip – “Sing Live”

The Travel Group are pleased to announce, they are organising a trip to a production of “Sing Live, The Ultimate Movies” which will feature solos from our own Tim Redmond. For any one who has not attended a performance of the “Sing Live” choir in concert, we can thoroughly recommend the evening at the superb Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. The date of the trip is 26^th January 2008 and the cost is £25.00 to include ticket and return coach from Leyland. To book your place or further information contact Lionel Glover on 01257 270112.

And finally…

Some of our members are in a production of “Steel Magnolias” with the Golden Girls Theatre Group at Worden Arts Centre, Worden Park, Leyland. The production is in aid of Breast Cancer Research. The performances are on Sat 17 & Sun 18 November. Tickets are £6.00each. Tickets are available from Rita Compton 01257  793305. Please support if you can.

J U L Y   2 0 0 7

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Dorothy Gaskell

It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the passing of Dorothy Gaskell last Friday. Dorothy was a patron of the society for over 40 years and in her time served on the Awards panel for many years. She will be sadly missed.

NODA Region 6 Awards 2007

The Players have received 15 nominations for the Area 6 NODA awards, they are as follows:

                    Best Actress in a Play:                              SARAH WHITE as “Julie” in “Clerical Errors”

                    Best Supporting Actor in a Play:             NICK GITTINS as “Pete” in “Clerical Errors”

                                                                                           GEORGE BIRKIN as “Dr Drimmond” in “There goes the bride”

                    Best Supporting Actress in a Play:         KATH CREER as “Gran” in “Clerical Errors”

                                                                                           DELIA RUTLIDGE as “Polly” in “There goes the bride”

                    Best Immortal in a Pantomime:              JOYCE NICHOLLS as “Granula” in “Frankenstein”

                                                                                           KARL MERCER as “Dracula” in “Frankenstein”

                                                                                           NICK GITTINS as “Frankie” in “Frankenstein”

                    Best Mortal in a Pantomime:                   MICHAEL COOMBES as “Prince Rupert” in “Frankenstein”

                                                   &